E. Rockhill Talks About Updating Emergency Plan

The East Rockhill supervisors last night discussed updating its emergency management plan and looking at ways to control holiday craft shows in homes.

Mary Seyler, the township's emergency management coordinator, told the supervisors that the emergency plan adopted several years ago needs some revision.

For instance, she said, the plan lists East Rockhill police and its backup as the state police at Dublin. The community now is covered by Pennridge Regional Police.

Seyler said the township needs to compile a list of handicapped residents who would need help getting out of their homes if a disaster hits. Township secretary Kathy Babb said she'd contact the Pennridge Senior Center, local schools and ask for names.

A list of local ham radio operators also should be compiled, said Seyler.

The supervisors also agreed that Steve Funk, the township's director of public services, should be named assistant emergency management coordinator.

The supervisors received two complaints about a woman in Park Hill Estates who holds a large holiday craft fair in her home each year. The supervisors said they would look for ways to better control such ventures.

Zoning officer Nancy Moore said she can't shut the woman down because the holiday craft fair, held for one weekend in October, falls under the category of garage sale.

Residents are permitted to hold four yard sales a year for three days each.

Moore said she's spoken to the woman about the neighbors' concerns of excessive traffic.

"I did talk to her on the phone and told her to possibly look for some other place to have it next year," said Moore.

The supervisors said they saw the craft fair as a retail operation and believed some limits should be placed on it by next year.

"You want to help people in the township, but you can't let people in a residential area do something like this," said Supervisor Gary Volovnik.